Tony Bennett and Harold Arlen conducting " So Long Big Time"
In 1963, CBS produced a one hour tribute to Harold Arlen. It was a program called The Twentieth Century , hosted by Walter Cronkite. It was focused more on Arlen's approach to songwriting , a serious attempt to explore the musical philosophy and craftsmanship of this under appreciated American songwriter.
There were interviews with Lena Horne who had made Arlen's Stormy Weather an essential part of her repertoire and a filmed segment with Tony Bennett singing So Long Big Time. This was a recent collaboration with lyricist Dory Langdon, then married to Andre Previn. Previn had been a longtime admirer of Arlen who stated that " I am aware of the sophistication of his harmonies and, as a composer, I marvel at his melodies and at his unorthodox constructions." Praise from such a major musical figure is praise indeed.
Bennett has also added his admiration and respect for Arlen when he sated that " Besides him being the greatest professional man I ever met, he was the most beautiful human being I ever met."
In the film, Arlen's spirited conducting of Bennett generated a wonderful performance of So Long Big Time. Its features a slow introduction, then an upbeat middle section only to return to the original opening theme. It is an actual example of how Arlen frequently rejected the standard 32 bar popular AABA popular song structure in favor of more extended and innovative compositions. George Gershwin, who Arlen idolized did say that " Arlen was the most original of us all ! "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkCqYADxNhY
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